My Soon to Be Chef

After work today I went to pick up Tanner from my mom's house. As we were leaving he was telling me about his plan that he and two of his friends have come up with. Interesting and intriguing to say the least. As we were talking about it, I realized the three of them have thought it out well. I laughed to myself in amazement at the details that the three of these third graders have come up with. Tanner, Caleb, and Grayson have come up with a great idea to open a restaurant. Instead of a big restaurant, it will be a small stand until they can afford to buy some tables and chairs. As they make more money they will get a bigger place. There will be themed meals and if serving at night they will have flashlights instead of candles. They will take turns taking money, being the chef and the idea maker. They have decided that the first time they serve food it will be a rainforest theme. They will start off with a simple menu at first and then add more specialized foods. They will serve mashed potato sandwiches, potato salad sandwiches, tuna salad sandwiches. Their prices are going to be $3.59 per meal. Extras will be $.10, extras include cutting the crust off the bread, extra cheese, extra mayonaise, or extra potatoes. He asked if one night for his themed dinner if he could borrow my bread recipe. I told him he could. He knows what ingredients go in the spread for the bread and does a fabulous job making it himself. He knows I don't measure any of it and what it tastes like and can make it just like mine. Tanner said that in a few years, he figures they will have a franchise.
As I am sitting here typing this, I still sit in amazement as to what these three boys have thought up. They have an idea, a plan and the steps to take to get to where they want to be. I am also sitting in amazement as to why three boys at the age of 8 are planning on opening up a restaurant.

Blessings

Today I was reminded more than once how truly blessed I am. I am blessed with my two wonderful kids. I am blessed that I have a roof over my head. I am blessed by the food that is in my pantry. I am blessed with two wonderful, loving parents. I am loved beyond belief. Today, I thanked God for all of this and more. Because I realized today that some people don't have what I have been given. Even people whom I love dearly and whom are in my family.

You see, I have a cousin who is the youngest of three in her family. She is the only girl and was never wanted. I cannot imagine having the feeling and knowing that I was not wanted. The words were never said to me from a young age, but I knew that she was never wanted by the actions of her parents. My parents, have some of the biggest hearts. Every summer I remember my cousin coming and staying the entire summer with us. She would come as soon as school was out and never had clothes. My mom would go buy or make whatever she needed just as she did for my sister and I. When we went on summer vacation, she would go with us. My parents treated her as their daughter.

She has recently gone through some very difficult times. She has lived with her mom for the past two years and has lived out of her suitcase during that time. Her mom has not once moved clothes out of a closet or cleaned out a dresser drawer for her to temporarily put her belongings. Today, she and my mom talked. My cousin has no idea what to do. I talked to her for a while as well. She asked me point blank what she needed to do. To tell her what to do. I told her what my parents have taught me and still teach me. Do what is best for you and the rest will follow. She asked me what would I do in her situation. I told her that I would find some place where I had all the love and support I needed to put my life back together. Some place where I felt safe, some place that I knew would help me heal. She laughed and said, "Where? Home?" She and I both know she meant with my parents. They have been there for her when no one else is or has been. They have been her rock when her parents, her brothers, her uncles and grandparents weren't.

I can only hope to be half as good as my parents are. They have taught me so much about life. They are the best example I have and I hope that one day I will make them proud.

Patience

When my children are good, they are oh so sweet!! I wouldn't give them up for the world. When my children are bad, I just want to reach over and smack them! Tanner just turned 8 and loves to pick on his sister. Ella just turned 3 and LOVES to do ANYTHING to get her brother in trouble. (She has a halo, but it is ALWAYS tilted!)Since I have Fridays off, the kids and I usually sleep late, get something to eat, just chill until we have to get dressed. This Friday, their Nesey was in town and they were up at 7 ready to go! Get them dressed and out the door to breakfast with Nesey. That afternoon I decided to go to Wal-Mart. Usually Tanner is pretty laid back and Ella, well, she gets put in the basket and tied down, hands and all. If she isn't, I buy things I had no idea I was buying until I check out. For some strange reason, I didn't put her in the basket. Instead, I let her help me push the basket. I had to go to the vacuum cleaner aisle to look for a filter. As I am standing there, Ella decides to ram her brother with the basket. Not once, but twice....the second time trying to chase him down the aisle. The first time I told her to stop in my mother tone, but she laughed and chased him down!! Ok, forget what I was after, the sooner I get out the better and safer my kids will be. On the way to the food aisles, via the toy aisles, Ella forgets about trying to run over Tanner. We are happy and loving on each other again and picking out what all they want for Christmas (I need to win the lottery!!) So I go down the laundry aisle first, guess who didn't forget they got ran over with the basket. Yep, Tanner tried to mow his sister down with the basket! I get on to him and he immediately quits and starts defending himself...."But mom, she ran over me first and then chased me." What do I do now? I put Ella in the basket and Tanner in front of the basket...guess who decides to climb out of the seat and into the back of the basket so she can hit her brother!! UGH!! I was so frustrated that I forgot half of everything on the list. New rule...NO KIDS ARE ALLOWED TO GO TO WAL-MART WITH ME. EVER! At least not together!!